A Frozen Musical Review

As a theatre fan, I was excited to get some tickets for the West End production of the Disney musical – Frozen. Shown in one of my favourite West End theatres, The Theatre Royal at Drury Lane, I was sure that the stage version would be impressive.

Knowing how good the film was, I was intrigued about how they would transform the stage into an icy castle.

My Thoughts

The Theatre Royal always seems so grand with its lush bars and grand reception area. Walking in and viewing the big ‘Frozen’ logo, I was wondering how three-dimensional this production might be. My instincts were telling me that this was going to be a very visual show.

I do not know the movie well enough to be aware of whether or not some of the songs were added for the stage show but I suspect they might have been.

Early on, the two younger actors sang, ‘Do you wanna build a snowman?’ and before long the grown up cast were cleverly acting out, ‘Love is an open door.’

When Elsa appeared, I was pleased to see that it was Samantha Barks who played Eponine in the film version of ‘Les Miserables.’ Her voice stood out and was ridiculously close to Idina Menzel’s. I can testify to this as I heard Idina sing when I had front-row tickets to ‘If/Then’ back in 2014.

The voices in this play were amazing! Such a talented group of performers.

A funny scene involving a Norwegian shop owner singing about the Scandinavian idea of hygge really made me laugh. Many other highlights included well-timed comedy, especially from the actress who played Anna.

It was the special effects that blew me away. No spoilers but it was worth going for these alone.

In A Nutshell

I really enjoyed watching this theatrical performance of ‘Frozen’ and would totally recommend checking it out. The only downside was that it was a matinee and packed with noisy young kids. However, the songs, the humorous moments, and the scenery all stood out to make this a magnificent production.

Thank you for reading my review. For more recommendations of books, TV shows and podcasts, check out Read, watch and listen and perhaps follow my little blog for similar future posts.

Two TV Shows I Am Enjoying

Always looking for entertaining TV shows, I thought it would be fun to share a couple that I am currently loving. I watch all sorts of dramas and comedies and sometimes documentaries as well as films on TV streaming services. Today I am talking about two TV shows that are keeping me hooked for different reasons.

I am enough of a TV fan to pay for lots of streaming apps that I dip into all of the time. I use Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, Netflix, Now TV, Paramount Plus and Amazon Prime. It sounds like a lot but I treat myself to these and definitely get a lot out of watching them.

And Just Like That (Season 2)

Having been a regular viewer of the excellent ‘Sex and the City’ series back in the 90s, I was always going to try the new incarnation. Already on its second season, the revamp of SITC is already a hit.

Seeing Carrie Bradshaw going through midlife challenges alongside her trusty friends is satisfying. Instead of writing a column for a newspaper, she is now a successful podcast contributor and novelist.

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is back with Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and some new mates. Miranda is getting to grips with being bisexual and struggling to negotiate a separation from Steve. Meanwhile, Charlotte is parenting two teenagers who keep her on her feet.

The storylines have been varied and funny. I have laughed out loud at some scenes and had teary eyes during the dramatic parts.

The Bear (Season 1)

This fast-paced show is about a chef who has taken on the family business, an American diner, after his brother died. Having worked in a top class restaurant in Copenhagen, Carmen (Jeremy White) leads a great cast in a programme about competition, survival and family ties.

Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) comes on as second-in-charge but as a young chef she finds it hard to win over a long standing cook. The interaction between the characters is believable and interesting, with heightened emotions coupled with kitchen disasters and moments of silliness.

I feel like I am learning about the fine art of cooking while also gobbling up plenty of drama with every episode. The acting is strong and the half hour instalments are really gripping.

The series is edgy as the restaurant, called BEEF, often has breakages which result in inventive money raising. For instance a fridge condenser needs repairing and so the owner’s cousin decides to sell drugs in order to fix the fridge and get the place on track.

Final Thoughts

If you haven’t tried either of these programmes, you definitely should. The Bear is on Disney Plus and was nominated for awards. It will be back with its second series on 19th July.

And Just Like That has returned with great storylines and plenty of tongue-in-cheek humour. It is well worth checking out on Now TV or Sky.

Thank you for reading my article about two TV shows I am enjoying. You can find out about another great Paramount TV show called YellowJackets here. Please drop a comment below about any of these programmes. Perhaps also follow my blog for similar future TV, film and book reviews alongside environmental articles.

The Little Mermaid 2023 Review

This is weird but I decided to watch the new Disney version of ‘The Little Mermaid’ without having seen the original. I mean, I knew the main songs from Disney compilations and specials. But I never got round to watching the whole first movie. Anyway, I was keen to try out the live action version so here is my The Little Mermaid 2023 review.

On a recent visit to Denmark I was shown where the writer of the Little Mermaid actually lived (see photo). I also got to see a remarkable statue of a Merman (below) and one of a Mermaid (but it was raining so I never got a good picture of that one).

The Merman.

The home of storyteller Hans Christian Anderson

My Review

I was interested in the movie as it was directed by Rob Marshall who has a great track record. I enjoyed his recent ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ film and ‘Into The Woods’ a few years before. I’d also seen Jonah Hauer-King in the dramatic series ‘World On Fire’ and ‘Flatshare’ so wanted to see how he portrayed Prince Eric.

Halle Bailey was introduced to the role of Ariel and her singing voice was perfect for this. She sang ‘Part Of That World’ so brilliantly and her acting was believable. She and Jonah worked well together as potential lovers. The original songs were added to with a lovely song for Prince Eric, which he performed flawlessly.

Melissa McCarthy played an evil sea witch known as Ursula. She was a good fit for that role and showcased her comedy skills alongside her singing and threatening side. With side characters such as a seagull, a fish and a lobster, the cast was complete.

The CGI was really magical and the storyline was paced nicely. The only thing that irritated me was a rap that the seagull did which felt out of place.

Final Thoughts

The Little Mermaid 2023 was magical and the soundtrack soothing. I especially enjoyed the performances by Halle, Jonah and Melissa. I would totally recommend checking out this two hours and fifteen minutes live action remake. It is heart-warming, keeps you interested and full of Disney beauty.

For my last movie review, check out my The Mother Film Review. Also, please consider following my blog for future reviews and similar content.